PLANS to register a community field as a village green could come a step closer tomorrow night.

Campaigners in Weaverham who want to safeguard the future of Lakehouse Field are waiting to hear whether Vale Royal Borough Council backs their calls for the field to be registered as a village green.

The council previously objected to the application because Weaverham Parish Council had done likewise, but following an almost complete change of personnel on the parish council at the recent elections - which has been put down in part to dissatisfaction over the council's stance on Lakehouse Field - this could be about to change.

The parish council has written to Vale Royal withdrawing its objection to the scheme, and councillors on the executive board will decide tomorrow what its latest position is.

By registering the field as a village green, local civic society the Weaverham Trust says it would achieve its objective of protecting the field against future developments such as housing, so all villagers can enjoy it.

The Trust has had popular support for its bid and presented a petition to the new parish council containing more than 1,000 signatures from villagers.

Controversy erupted when the previous Weaverham Parish Council asked the Trust to withdraw its application. The old parish council feared it may lose the ability to manage the field if registered as a village green, leading to a possible 'open house' situation with events such as car-boot sales becoming the norm.

Tomorrow's meeting will not solve the issue, however, as Cheshire County Council's Rights of Way Committee has deferred its final decision on the field while it waits for the result of a similar 'test case' in Sunderland.